Gas-meter diaphragm



PATBNTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

A. HBNNING. GAS METER DIAPHRAGM.

APPLIATION FILED JAN. 25, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

abbot/twg v UNITED STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

PATENT EricE.

ABEL HENNING, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR,*BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO DEVEY NAVIGATION AND TRADING COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GAS-METER DIAPHRAGIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 770,369, dated September 20, 1904.

Application filed January 25, 1904:. Serial No'. 190,418. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABEL HENNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Meter Diaphragms, of which the following' is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in diaphragms for use in gas-meters, the object 1o of my invention being to provide a construction of diaphragm which shall give a greater capacity of gas-meter for a given size thereof and which shall be more durable than those heretofore constructed.

1 5 In prior forms of diaphragms for gas-meters, in which the diaphragm proper is made of iiexible leather, the edges of the diaphragm have been secured to rings by means of c ords or wires tightly wound around the edge of the zo diaphragm and in grooves in the rings. With this construction it has resulted that upon each compression of the diaphragm by pressure on the outside thereof there has still been a considerable quantity of gas remaining within the diaphragm and not expelled therefrom. This residual gas has to be deducted from the total capacity of the diaphragm, and the capacity of the gas-meter has been to this extent diminished in proportion 3o to its size.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction of diaphragm by which there shall be no residual gas whatever left within the diaphragm after compression, thereby enabling the gas-meter to have the maximum capacity possible.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction by which the diaphragm shall be less subject to rotting by deposition of 4o moisture due to condensation.

My invention therefore resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts for the above ends hereinafter fully specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a rear View of a vgas-meter equipped with my improved diaphragm, the rear wall being removed to show the diaphragm. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the rear portion of the meter, showing the diaphragm collapsed.

vFig. 3 is a similar view showing it expanded.

VReferring to the drawings, l represents the meter, and 2 the rear chamber, in which is located the diaphragm 3. Said diaphragm is 5 5 first blocked upon a suitable form, so as to give the leather the required shape and so that its edges are not puckered or gathered as in prior forms of diaphragms for this class of meter. Thev inner edge, which is located next to the 6c partition 4, is riveted between a pair of annular plates or rings 5 and 6, said rings being provided with annular concentric corrugations meshing with each other, so that the edge of the diaphragm is clamped iirmly there- 6.5 between. The outer edge of the diaphragm is riveted in like manner between a pair of similar but smaller rings7 and 8. The central opening in the Youter rings 7 8 permits a soldering-iron to be applied to the edge of the larger 7o rings 5 6 to solder said rings to the partitionplate t. Then a circular plate 9 is soldered upon the smaller pair of rings to eloe the opening in the same. The diaphragm is now completely closed. 75

The expansion and collapse of the diaphragm are caused to aetuate the indicator, as follows: To the rear plate 9 are secured arms IO, between which is supported a bar ll, attached to the end of an arm 12, rigidly secured to a 8O Vertical rock-shaft I3. This rock-shaft is such as is commonly found in gas-meters and extends through the top of the chamber 2 and actuates the counting mechanism. The diaphragm is guided in its movements by means 8 5 of elongated eyes 14 l5, secured upon the outer plate 9, through which pass the ends of a yoke I6, pivoted in bearings 17, secured upon the bottom of the chamber. It will be observed that this guide is arranged on the opposite side to the rock-shaft 13, so as not to interfere with the rearward movement of the outer plate 9, thus allowing the diaphragm its fullest capacity; also, that on account of the annular plates or rings being parallel to each other and in places transverse to the axis of the diaphragm and also because of the fact that the outer pair of rings are small enough to pass into the inner' pair the diaphragm can be completely collapsed.

An important feature of my invention resides in the fact that the body of the diaphragm extends outward at each edge from the corresponding pair of plates or rings 5 6 or 7 8. This construction permits of the small rings being made suiiicientl y large to fit closely within the larger rings and avoids undue tlexure or' the diaphragm, which would eventually crack and break the same by continually bending at sharp angles. By attaching the edges of the diaphragm to the outer edges oi' both pairs of rings sharp bends in the diaphragm areavoided. At the same time a greater lcapacity is obtained for the diaphragm, and yet all this is accomplished while achieving the main object of my invention, namely, to permit the diaphragm to be completely collapsed by the smaller rings entering entirely within the larger rings. It will also be observed that with this construction there is no possibility of the water oi condensation coming in contact with the diaphragm, tending' to rot the same, as is the case with diaphragms as at present constructed. Furthermore, the means of attachment of the edges of the diaphragm are much more durable than in prior forms of these devices, in which the diaphragm is secured by a cord or wire, which after `much use is apt to break.

I claim-- l. Adiaphragm for a gas-meter having its edges secured to plates which extend substantially in planes parallel to each other and transverse to the axis of the diaphragm, whereby the diaphragm can be completely collapsed, the body of the diaphragm extending outward at each edge from the corresponding plates, substantially as described.

2. A diaphragm for a gas-meter comprising a diaphragm proper, and inner and outer pairs of parallel plates between which the inner and outer edges of the diaphragm are respectively clamped, the body of the diaphragm extending outward at each edge from the corresponding plates, substantially as described.

3. A diaphragm for a gas-meter comprising a diaphragm proper, a pair of rings between which one edge of the diaphragm is secured, and another pair of rings of sufficiently small diameter to pass through the first rings, between which the other edge of the diaphragm is secured, the body of the diaphragm extending outward at each edge from the corresponding plates, substantially as described.

4. A diaphragm for a gas-meter comprising a diaphragm proper, an inner pair oi' rings in planes transverse to the axis of the diaphragm, between which an edge of the diaphragm is secured, an outer pair of rings in parallel planes and of diameter sufciently small to pass through the inner rings, between which outer rings the outer edge of the diaphragm is secured, the body or' the diaphragm extending outward at each edge from the corresponding plates, and a plate closing the opening in the outer rings, substantially as described.

A diaphragm for a gas-meter comprising a diaphragm proper, an outer ring to which the outer edge of the diaphragm is secured, a plate closing the opening in said ring, arms on said plate, and a swinging yoke engaging said arms and forming a guide for the diaphragm in its reciprocating movement, said yoke being wholly on one side of the center, substantially as described.

In witness whereoil I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. HENNING. Witnesses:

W. T. HEss, F. M. WRIGHT. 

